Adjustable garment



May 22, 1951 B. MYRoN ADJUSTABLE GARMENT Filed Aug. 4, 1950 Z0 INVENTOR .-Bwf P134 70 n ATTORNEY?,

SYM MSM Patented May 22, 195

ADJUSTABLE GARMENT Burt Myron, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Mojud Hosiery Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a rcorporation of Delaware -ApplicationAugust 45, 1950, SeriaiNo. 1.2774624 .8 Claims.

This invention relates to .adjustable garments, and particularly to ladies garments and undergarments which are supported without shoulder straps.

.The present invention provides an adjustable garment or undergarment which is either primarily or entirely self-supporting, i. e. it may be used without shoulder straps although', of course, if desired, shoulder straps may .be attached. When adjusted on the body of the wearer, the .garment according to this invention permits comfort and free breathing, it holds its .position on the body, conforms to the contour of the body, allows ,free motion, as in .exhaling and inhaling, and is susceptible of moderate adjustment. Furthermore a commercial line of garments embodying this invention may be made up in a smaller `number of bust sizes than is customary, .due to the features of adjustment and iiexibility .thereby aiforded.

A certain present preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying .drawing, in which Figure l is a :front View of the garment, with a section of the skirt ,broken away;

Figure ',2 .is Va front viewof `a garment difierf ing in some respect from Figure 1, with the bottom of the 'skirt :not shown;

Figure 3 ,is .a side elevation View of .the upper portion of the -garment shown .in Figure '1;

Figure 4 is arear view of the upper portion of the garment shown in Figure l, with a different type construction in the back; and Figure 5 is a detail view-of Athe 'upper edge portion -of ythe garment yshown in Figure Referring to the drawings, and :particularly to .Figure 1, Vthe garment, for example a slip, nightgown, .or outer garment, is shown having a brassire portion .-II ;and ja skirt portion l2. The skirt portion extends above the waist :and terminates in -a vpoint -or VV---shape Vat the 'lateral center of the brassire jportion, 'this generally triangular section of the plain fabric .being shown at I3.V The brassire portion is `sewed to the skirt portion, as at I4 (see Figures l., 3 and 4). The brassire portion, as shown in Figure .1, is preferably made of elastic fabric, such as elastic knitted fabric :|5, and the skirt portion may be made vof -any desired fabric, such -as woven or knitted textile, silk, rayon `or nylon fabric. The brassire portion II generally conforms to the -bust contour.

As shown in .Figure 2, the brassire portion II is .similarly ,sewed .to the skirt portion .|2, except that the :generally triangular ,portion AI3 of plain Vfabric,,preferably non-elastic, S Separated at the waist :from the lower portion of the skirt by stitching I6. It will be noted .also that the upper .decorative edging of the gar.- ment in Figure l :is a `lace Il, whereas the .GOT- responding portion in the structure of Figure -e? is an open mesh .or net fabric i8.

Figure 5 shows an adjustable portion secured, as by sewing, to the .upper .edge vof the brassire portion Il. `A fahr-.i0 strip ,I9 ,is lprovided v.witlji openings 2.0 lthrough Wlfiih there is sinuouslly threaded `a tightening element '2l which .may 'be conveniently in the form of `a ribbon, as shown, but which .may also .comprise-cords .or .other elongated velements. Woven .or threaded into .the strip I9 .are elastic .strands 23 and 2,4 adjacent the strip is `anu ranking it on opposite sides. Auxiliary elastic stri-DS i2.5 Aand .2.6 are also preterably, though .not necessarily, provided in the fabric of the strip T9 beyond .the elastic strands 23 and 2.3, respectively. rSecured -to the .upper or outer edge of the ,fabric strip 19 there attached, for .example yby sewing, .a Ldeco.rifatl/t? lace `or .open mesh IJ .or I8, which also serves the functional purpose of .retarding any Abinding or .pinching .effect upon .the .wearer .of the upper.- most .elastic rstrand I'2f'5 .when the 'garment worn. The. ribbon within the V`strip I9 extends continuously around the .upper body portion .of the ,garment .and the ,ribbon 'terminates prefer,- ably at the ,front .of fthe garment in ends .2J and 28. vWhen adjusted :in position, .the .ends of the ribbon .may be tied lin a ,knot Yor bow 1 29.. It will be noted ,that A.the yfabric .strip .I9 ,may be a .continuous fabric .which may .extend all the way from'the ,lower .edge of elastic 26 to the top of the .ornamental lace section Ill, or the strip I9 may terminate at its .upper edge immediately aboveelastio 2.5, With lace .section Il boing added as by stitching. .It is of course obvious that the strip rm may be .made .of .any suitable type ifabric, Vso `long .as the -beaded .feature is 'included to *permit Vinteriacing of the drawstring.

AThe vwearer puts the Y garment on in the usual manner, and before the Yribbon 'is tightened it is adjusted so that 'it 'is generally vself#supporting when the .brassire Yportion is made Voff 'elastic fabric, such as el'asti'cizedgknit or .woven fabricJ the vbrassire 'portion .conforming comfortably rmly to the bust portion .of `-the 'b'odyso tlratitne skirt hangs in the normal manner. The .fabric insert AI3 in .the .front portion of the "brassire section permits Abra separation, whiohtLcr-.m used in the trade 'to describe the contour 'of the brassire as opposed to flattening of the entire bust all the way across the front of the garment. The elastic fabric as shown in the drawing extends all the Way around the back of the brassire portion of the garment, preferably down to or in the vicinity of the waistline. However, it is to be understood that the brassire portion may be provided with sufficient tension and support by the use of elastic or elasticized fabric in a part of the brassire portion; for example, non-elastic fabric may displace one or more sections of the sides o1' back of section II, as shown in Figure 4. By the construction of this invention the support afforded both above and below the bust, and the upper portion of the garment, follows the dennition or contour normally created by a brassire.

The skirt portion of the garment may be of any usual configuration and fabric, such as materials and designs used in evening slips, nightgowns, etc.

One of the major advantages of the present invention is afforded by the upper adjustable element extending around the top of the brassire portion. After the garment has been generally adjusted into position the ribbon is tightened until a comfortable fit is afforded to the top of the brassire portion. The ribbon 2l, operating as a drawstring, is preferably inelastic. The elastic strands flanking the ribbon 2l, in either normal or relaxed position, prior to wearing the garment, conform in length to the upper edge of the brassire portion, and as the garment is adjusted on the body of the wearer, the elastic strands extend commensurately with the elastic fabric of the brassire portion I I. In the normal position, therefore, the fabric of the strip $9 is shirred, so that when the elastic strands are stretched, the fabric strip I9 may also be stretched to conform to the contour and size of the wearer. Similarly, the elastic strands, particularly strand 2 5, and to a lesser degree strand 23, retains the lace II or net I8 in shirred, crimped, or ruffled position before the garment is placed on the body, and the lace or netting is sufficiently expansible to conform to the contour of the body after the garment is putV on and also after the upper portionv of the garment is drawn tight by pulling together the ends 2'I and 28 of the drawstring or ribbon. Thus there is provided a garment which, in relaxed or expanded position, maintains symmetrical contour forms without the unsightly distortion encountered in garments not made in accordance with this invention. A particularly desirable feature, both from the comfort and appearance points of View, is the conformability of the upper decorative lace or net to conform to the contour of the wearer, without undue bulk, folding or discomfort.

While the invention is primarily applicable to garments of .the strapless type, shoulder straps may be used if desired, the form-fitting features of invention still providing the advantages described above.

- While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be used within the scope of the appended claims, and it is, of course, obvious that the term undergarment as used herein, is broad enough to include nightgowns and other outer garments of simila1` character.

What is claimed is:

1. An undergarment comprising a brassire portion and a skirt portion, the brassire portion comprising an elastic fabric to provide a snug body fit, and an adjustable garment-supporting strip portion attached adjacent the upper edge of said brassire portion, said adjustable strip portion comprising a tightening element threaded sinuously through said strip, said strip containing an elastic thread extending adjacent each side of said tightening element, said adjustable strip portion comprising an expansible lace edge attached adjacent one of said elastic threads and shirred at its attaching juncture.

2. An undergarment comprising a brassire portion and a skirt portion, the brassire portion comprising an elastic fabric to provide a snug body fit, and an adjustable garment-holding strip portion attached adjacent the upper edge of said brassire portion, said adjustable strip portion comprising a tightening element threaded sinuously through said strip, said strip containing an elastic thread extending adjacent each side of said tightening element, said adjustable portion comprising an expansible net fabric edge attached adjacent one of said elastic threads and shirred at its attaching juncture.

3. An edging for a garment comprising a strip of fabric, a tightening element threaded sinuously through said strip, an elastic strand incorporated into said strip on each side of said tightening element, and an open mesh fabric attached adjacent one of said elastic strands, said open mesh fabric being shirred at the attaching juncture along its inner edge when said elastic strands are in their relaxed position.

4. A strapless garment comprising a brassire portion and a skirt portion, the brassire portion comprising an elastic fabric to provide a snug bust fit, and a garment supporting strip portion eX- tending around the upper edge of said brassire portion to hold the garment in place on the wearer, said strip having a series of openings, a drawstring threaded through said openings, ancl an elastic strand extending adjacent each side of said drawstring, said elastic strands being anchored into said strip under tension, said elastic strands holding the upper portion of said brassire portion rmly against the body of the wearer when the chest has contracted beyond the effective length of said drawstring.

5. A strapless garment comprising a brassire portion and a skirt portion, the brassire portion comprising an elastic fabric to provide a snug bust nt, and a garment supporting strip portion extending around the upper edge of said brassire portion to hold the garment in place on the wearer, said strip having a series of openings, a drawstring threaded through said openings, and an elastic strand extending adjacent each side of said drawstring, said elastic strands being anchored into said strip under tension, said elastic strands holding the upper portion of said brassire portion rmly against the body of the wearer when the chest has contracted beyond the effective length of said drawstring, said drawstring being inelastic.

6. A strapless garment comprising a brassire portion and a skirt portion, the brassire portion comprising an elastic fabric to provide a snug bust t, and a garment supporting strip portion extending around the upper edge of said brassire portion to hold the garment in place on the wearer, said strip having a series of openings, a drawstring threaded through said openings, and an elastic strand extending adjacent each side of said drawstring, said elastic strands being anchored into said strip under tension, said elastic strands holding the upper portion of said brassire portion firmly against the body of the wearer when the chest has contracted beyond the effective length of said drawstring, said drawstring having a lower modulus of elasticity than said elastic strands.

7. A garment comprising a brassire portion and a skirt portion, the brassire portion comprising an elastic fabric to provide a snug bust fit, and a garment supporting strip portion extending around the upper edge of said brassire portion to hold the garment in place on the wearer, said strip having a series of openings, a drawstring threaded through said openings, and an elastic strand extending adjacent each side of said drawstring, said elastic strands being anchored into said strip under tension, said elastic strands holding the upper portion of said brassire portion rmly against the body of the wearer when the chest has contracted beyond the eifective length of said drawstring, said drawstring being inelastic and adjustable in effective length to conform to the normal dimensions of the chest of the wearer.

8. An edging for a garment comprising a strip of fabric, a tightening element threaded through said strip, an elasticy strand incorporated into 6 said strip on each side of said tightening element, and an open fabric extending parallel to said strip adjacent one of said elastic strands, said open fabric being shirred at the juncture with said strip along its inner edge when said elastic strands are in their relaxed position,

BURT MYRON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,341,716 Leopard June 1, 1920 1,887,939 Lyons Nov. 15, 1932 1,978,259 Gastrich Oct. 23, 1934 2,022,350 Huber Nov. 26, 1935 2,274,382 Richman Feb. 24, 1942 2,503,690 Shelton Apr. 11, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 801,201 France July 30, 1936 

